Barely Even Friends

Description

A grumpy, rich recluse meets his match in this steamy Beauty and the Beast retelling—with a Succession twist. Fans of fairy tale adaptations, and readers of Julie Murphy and Falon Ballard, will adore Mae Bennett’s debut romance.

Bellamy Price has just been offered the job of a lifetime: lead contractor on the restoration of the mysterious and sprawling Killington Estate. If she meets the owner’s ridiculous timeline, she’ll finally make a name for herself in this male-dominated industry. But when she rolls up her sleeves, slips on her suspenders, and shows up at the crumbling mansion, Bellamy finds the estate very much occupied. 

After a traumatic car accident that left his parents dead and himself injured, Oliver Killington, heir to the Killington empire, took up residence as the grumpy caretaker of his grandfather’s mansion. None too pleased by the presence of the hammer-wielding woman who’s moved into his house, Oliver tries to block her at every turn.

But when Bellamy discovers Oliver’s facing his own ultimatum from his grandfather, the two form a cautious truce, which leads to flying sparks that are definitely not from faulty wiring. As Bellamy restores the gleam to the Killington Estate, she’ll have to decide if the walls she’s built around herself are worth knocking down to make space for someone else.

Perfect for fans of Tessa Bailey, this clever, steamy debut novel will have readers rooting for this Beauty and her Beast until the very last page.Praise for Barely Even Friends:
“With big-hearted characters you can’t help but root for, Bennett’s debut is both modern and fresh, yet still hits all the classic notes to perfection. Barely Even Friends has it all!”
—Amy Lea, international bestselling author of Exes and O’s

“Barely Even Friends is page after page of heartfelt joy. Steamy, cozy, and hopeful, this is the perfect modern Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve been waiting for!”
—Chloe Liese, author of Two Wrongs Make a Right

“Barely Even Friends is a fun, sexy twist on a tale as old as time—filled with loveable, diverse characters and that delicious friction that only grumpy/sunshine can bring, this book is everything I could have ever wanted in a modern retelling.”
—Lana Ferguson, author of The Nanny

“Barely Even Friends is a delightful tribute to romance in so many ways: trope-filled and steamy, vulnerable and swoony. But most of all, it is fun, a Beauty & the Beast retelling that adds the kind of quirkiness to a classic tale that only a romance novel can. I loved spending time at the Killington estate.”
—Anita Kelly, author of Love & Other Disasters

“With a fresh spin on a tale as old as time, Barely Even Friends is the sexy, bantery contemporary retelling of my dreams. An incredible debut full of heat and heart and delicious enemies-to-lovers energy!”
—Naina Kumar, author of Say You’ll Be Mine

“The Beauty and the Beast adaptation I didn’t know I needed. Mae Bennett’s Barely Even Friends absolutely delights with a steamy debut that ramps up the tension right from the beginning. The characters at the centre of this grumpy/sunshine romance have a depth that resonates, rebuilding a crumbling old house while simultaneously restoring their hearts, and surrounded by an original and unique supporting cast that I couldn’t get enough of. Bennett has taken a classic romance tale and made it her own; I can’t wait for more from Mae.”
—Ruby Barrett, author of The Romance Recipe

“Bennett brings warmth, humor, and joy to this delightful romance. With a debut like this, she is one to watch in the future. I smiled so hard that by the end of the book my face hurt!!”
—Elizabeth Everett, author of the Secret Scientists of London series and the Damsels of Discovery series

“Deliciously spicy, comforting and heartfelt, Barely Even Friends is the utterly charming Beauty and the Beast retelling I’ve been waiting for and now I’m a fan of Mae’s for life!”
—Nadia El-Fassi, author of Best Hex Ever
Mae Bennett is a hopeless romantic who enjoys imagining and writing happily ever afters in her free time. A voracious reader and reviewer of romance books while her cat, King Louis, rules from his throne. She bookstagrams her love of romance novels as @twiceuponabook.US

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